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National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision

Dedicated to improving employment outcomes of persons with blindness or low vision through research, training, and technical assistance.

What's New

Course

Adjusting to Vision Loss

What Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals Need to Know

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Resources

Checklist for Teaching Exploration and Troubleshooting

It is essential to prepare students for ongoing learning beyond initial training. This resource helps AT instructors...

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Fast Fact

Strategic Job Shifts

Nearly two-thirds of adults who are blind or have low vision said The Job Search Blueprint, the NRTC’s virtual job search program, changed how…

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Updated Resource

Online Survey Recommendations to Improve Acessibility for B/LV Users

When creating online surveys for people who are blind or have low vision, be aware that several factors can affect how...

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Our Websites

NRTC

NRTC logomark

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

The NRTC is the only U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-funded center focused on employment outcomes of persons with blindness or low vision.

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NTAC-BLV

National Technical Assistance Center on Blindness and Low Vision

Whether you are interested in employing someone who is blind or visually impaired or have a visual impairment yourself, this site will serve as your headquarters for resources and technical assistance.

Visit NTAC-BLV

OIB-TAC

Older Individuals who are Blind - Technical Assistance Center

The Technical Assistance Center for agencies promoting independence, community involvement, and well-being for older individuals who are blind.

Visit OIB-TAC

Current Research

Our center receives funding from the National Institute on Disability,  Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to conduct  research focused on improving employment. We hold NIDILRR’s  Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of  People who are Blind or Have Low Vision.

Participant Registry Article Summaries Peer-Reviewed Articles

Employment Outcomes Research 2025-2030

Image description: A man who is blind is using his phone on a beige couch.
Link to Development of Be My Mentor Intervention

Development of Be My Mentor Intervention

The purpose of this project is to develop and test Be My Mentor, an electronic flash mentoring intervention that aims to improve employment outcomes of adults who are blind or have low vision (B/LV).

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Image description: Sylvia Stinson-Perez sitting in a TV studio background in front of a camera.
Link to The Questions About Vision Loss Project

The Questions About Vision Loss Project

The purpose of this project is to implement the interactive video Questions About Vision Loss (QAVL) in real-world settings to evaluate its effectiveness in improving knowledge about hiring people who are blind or have low vision (B/LV), and examine the challenges experienced in implementing QAVL as an intervention in real-world settings.

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Image description: An open notebook on a table with the words "mental health" on a blank page. Includes several objects surrounding it, including a laptop, a pair of glasses, a plant, iPad, and a pencil holder.
Link to How VR Agencies Address Mental Health

How VR Agencies Address Mental Health

The purpose of this project is to investigate agency-level and individual factors related to mental health service provision and employment outcomes for VR consumers with B/LV.

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Image description: A blind woman using assistive technology to access her computer. Beside her is a professional assisting her.
Link to Identifying and Measuring Core Technology Skills

Identifying and Measuring Core Technology Skills

This project has two primary purposes: (1) identify the core technology skills that screen reader users who are blind or have low vision (B/LV) need to be successful in the workplace, and (2) create an objective, validated assessment of these core skills to determine whether individuals have the minimum technology skills necessary to enter the workforce.

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Image description: A woman who is blind using a laptop on a wooden desk. Beside her is a braille reader, tumbler, smartphone.
Link to Efficacy of Employment Interventions

Efficacy of Employment Interventions

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of several existing interventions, including a government program, on employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision (B/LV).

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Image description: Two people analyzing data at a desk.
Link to Exploring National and Social Media Data

Exploring National and Social Media Data

The purpose of this project is to explore employment trends, outcomes, and needs of people who are blind or have low vision (B/LV), including outcomes of people who are deafblind, providing insight into their post-pandemic employment experiences using publicly available data from large national datasets and a social media platform.

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Image description: Woman sitting on a couch using the 4to24 app.
Link to Enhancing 4to24 App Engagement

Enhancing 4to24 App Engagement

The purpose of this project is to increase adoption and user engagement with the 4to24 mobile app for B/LV youth and their parents, and the 4to24 App Content Portal for Professionals.

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